Laundry-machine.



A APatented Feb. Il, |902. D.- W. KEITH. LAUNDRY MACHINE. (Applicationled Oct.'6, 1900. Renewed Dec. 26, 1901.)

2 Sheets'-Sheet I.

No. 693,030.v`

'(.Ho Model.)

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No. 693,030. Patent-ed Feb. Il, i902.

D. W. KEITH.

LAUNDRY MACHINE. I (Application filed Oct. 6, 1900. ,Renewed Dec. 26,i901.) (No Model.) 2 Signets-*Sheet 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL lVESLEY'KEITl-I, OF KEITIIVILIJE, LOUISIANA.

LAUNDRY-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1\T0. 693,030, datedFebruary 11, 1902. Application filed October 6, 1900. Renewed December26, 1901. Serial No. 87,310. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, DANIEL WESLEY KEITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Keithville, in the parish of Caddo and State of Louisiana,have invented a new and useful Laundry-Machine, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention is an improved laundry-nia- 'chine which is adapted forstarching collars and cuffs, pressing the superfluous starch therefrom,drying the same after they are starched, and subsequently dampening thesame, thereby placing the cuffs and collars in condition to be ironed.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination ofdevices hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out rin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a vertical longitudinalsectional View of a laundrymachine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 isa sectional view of the same, taken on the line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa similar View taken on the line c c of Fig. 1. Fig. lis a similarviewof the same, taken on the line d d of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is adetail'viewshowing the means for adj usting the pressing, drying, and moisteningrolls. Fig. 6 is a detail View of one of the scrapers. Fig. 7 is adetail view of one of the discharge-rollers.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a suitable frame 1, in oneend of which is a starch tank or receptacle 2. In the sides of thestarch-tank are the bearings of a series of rollers 3, which I will callthe starchingrollers and certain of which are submerged in thestarch-tank, as indicated in Fig. l. At the front end of the frame are apair of feedrollers 4., one of which is disposed above the other. Inrear ofthe starching-rollers are the series'of pressing-rollers 5, ofwhich there are any suitable number, two pairs of said pressing-rollersbeinghere shown. The said pressing-rollers, which are made of metal, areperforated and are covered with any suitable absorbent material, as at6. Beyond the pressing-rollers are a series of drying-rollers 7, ofwhich there are a suitable number. As here shown, there are three pairsof the dryingrollers, and said drying-rollers are of greater diameterthan the pressing-rollers. Beyond the drying-rollers are themoistening-rollers S, of which there are a suitable number. As

here shown, there are two pairs of moistening- 'rection-roller 13.

rollers. Beyond the moistening-rollers are the discharge-rollers 9,there being a pair thereof, one being disposed above the other andspaced a suitable distance apart.

The moistening-rollers are hollow and perforated, being made of suitablemetal, and are covered between the grooves with suitable absorbentmaterial, as at 10. The journals of the said inoistening-rollers arehollow, and suitable steam-pipes discharge into said moisteningrollersto supply't-he said meistening-rollers with steam, which by condensingkeeps the covers lO of said rollers moist, as will be understood. Thedrying-rollers 7 are also hollow and have hollow journals and steam pipes which discharge through said hollow journals, whereby steam at asuitable pressure is maintained in said drying-rollers to keep thelatter heated to the requisite degrec.

A guide-roller 1l is journaled in suitable supports above the centralportion of the starch-tank. A guide-roller 12 is journaled `in suitablesupports belowithe central portion of the starch-tank, and a suitabledirection-roller 13 is journaled at a suitable distance below the frontend of the starch-tank. The guide-rollers 11 12 have vertically-movablebearings, as at 14, and are provided with adjusting-screws 15, by whichthey may be adjusted. Adjusting-screws l5 are also provided foradjusting the pressing, drying, and moistening rollers. k

A series of endless traeling carrier-Wires 16 connect the upperfeed-rollerv 4 and the upper discharge-roller 9, pass over theguideroller ll,alternately underand over the starching-rollers 3,throughout the series thereof, andn nder the upper series ofpressing-rollers 5, drying-rollers 7, and moistening-rollers 8. Aseriesof endless traveling carrier-wires 17 Vconnect the lower feed-roller4and the lower discharge-roller 9, pass alternately under and over ythestarching-rollers in the same planes as the opposing leads of thecarrier-Wires 16, pass over the lower series of pressing-rollers 5,drying-rollers 7, and,moistening-rollers 8, and pass under theguide-roller 12 and di- The said carrier-wires 16 17 are triangular incross-section and operate in correspondingly-spaced angular grooves 3,4a, 7, 8a, 9", 11a, 12, and 13, with which the feeding, starching,drying, moistening, discharging, guiding,and direction rollers arerespectively provided. The pressing rolls are also provided withtriangular grooves corresponding in size and numberwith those in themoistening-rolls.' A suitable number of the endless travelingcarrier-wires 16 17 are employed, and the same are disposed atappropriate regular distances apart on the rollers. Series of endlesstraveling fenderwires 18 19 connect the respective upper and lowerdrying and discharge rollers 7 9 and operate in annular grooves 7b, 8",and 9*,With which said drying, moistening, and discharge rollers arerespectively provided. It will be observedvby reference to the drawingsthat the opposing leads of the fender-wires 18 l19 between thedrying-rollers are disposed in planes which are slightly spaced apartvertically, and it will be further observed that the said fender-wiresare disposed intermediate of the carrier-wires 16 17. Said carrier-Wiresand said fender-Wires project beyond the surfaces of the drying-rollers7, as shown,and the collars and cuffs which are carried between the saiddrying-rollers by said carrier and fender-wires are by the said wireskept out of direct contact with the said rollers, while subjected byclose proximity thereto to the heat radiated therefrom and effectuallydried by said rollers.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The collars and cuffs arefed by au attendent between the feed-rollers 4 to the series ofcarrier-wires 16 17 and are by the said carrierwires and by thestarching-rollers 3 carried through and submerged in the starch in thestarch-tank. After leaving the starch-tank the collars and cuffs aresubjected to the compression of the compressing-rollers 5, which removeor express superfluous starch therefrom. Immediately after passing thepressing-rollers the collars and cuffs are `by the coacting carrier andfender Wires passed between and proximate to the drying-rollers anddried, as hereinbefore stated, and after leaving the drying-rollers thecollars and cuffs pass between the moistened surfaces of themoistening-rollers,which serve to dampen them before being dischargedfrom the machine, and hence the collars and cuffs when they aredischarged from the machine are i condition to be ironed.

At a suitable point, preferably above the guide-roller 11, l provide ascraper 20, which scrapes the starch from the carrier-Wires 16. Asimilar scraper 21 scrapes the starch from the carrier-wires 17.

Any suitable means may be employed for operating the rollers. It will beunderstood that as the carrier-wires connect and engage all the rollersthe latter are rotated when power is applied to any one of them, whichmay be done by a power-pulley or sprocketwheel to engage a power belt orchain driven by any suitable engine. A sprocket-wheel is shown attachedtothe shaft of one of the rollers 7 forthisipnrpose hz Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim- 1. In a laundry-machine of the classdescribed, the combination of a starch-tank, starching-rollers therein,endless traveling carrier elements coacting Withsaid starchingrollers,pressing-rollers beyond said starching-rollers and to which said endlesstraveling carrier elements lead, drying-rollers beyond saidpressing-rollers, moistening-rollers beyond the said drying-rollers,said drying a'nd moistening rollers being engaged by said carrierelements, and endless traveling fender elements engaging the opposingsides of said drying-rollers and disposed parallel to said endlesstraveling carrier elements, substantially as described.

2. In a laundry-machine of the class described, the combination of astarch-tank, starching-rollers therein, endless traveling carrierelements coacting with said starchingrollers, pressing-rollers beyondsaid starching-rollers and to which said endless traveling carrierelements lead, drying-rollers beyond said pressing-rollers,moistening-rollers beyond said drying-rollers, said drying andmoistening rollers being engaged by said endless traveling carrierelements, and Scrapers for said endless traveling carrier elements,substantially as described.

3. In a laundry-machine of the class described the combination of astarch-tank, starching-rollers therein, endless traveling carrier-wirescoacting with said starchingrollers, pressing-rollers beyond saidstarching-rollers, and to which said endless traveling carrier-wireslead, drying-rollers beyond said pressing-rollers and moistening-rollersbeyond said drying-rollers, substantially as described.

4. In a laundry-machine-of the class described, the combination of astarch-tank, starching-rollers therein, endless traveling carrier-wirescoacting with said starchingrollers, pressing-rollers beyond saidstarching-rollers, drying-rollers beyond said pressingrollers andmoistening-rollers beyond said drying-rollers, said endless travelingcarrier-wires engaging the said pressing, drying and moistening rollersand fender-wires traveling on said drying-rollers, the opposing leads ofsaid fender-wires being disposed parallel to said carrier-Wires, saidcarrier-wires and fender-wires projecting beyond the opposing surfacesof said drying-rollers to prevent the work from coming in direct contactwith said drying-rollers, substantially as described.

vIntestilnony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL VVESLEKT KEITH.

Vitne/sses:

T. F. BELL, vGEO. W. KENDALL.

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